Dogfish Head Teams Up with Voicebox for ‘Drinking/Songs’

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and public radio’s VoiceBox team up for an unforgettable global journey through the shared cultural history of ale and song.

Unique event affords beer lovers and vocal music fans an unrivaled opportunity to sample a range of Dogfish Head artisanal beers inspired by brewing traditions from around the world, hear music associated with the selected brews performed by a professional a cappella vocal ensemble and participate in a discussion about the ancient link between beer and song which will be recorded for broadcast on public radio.

One Night Only: May 16 at 50 Mason Social House, 50 Mason Street, San Francisco. 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm.)

SAN FRANCISCO – Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and public Radio’s VoiceBox present an unforgettable, interactive exploration of the ancient global connection between singing and beer.

DRINKING/SONGS: A NIGHT OF BEER AND THE MUSIC THAT GOES WITH IT affords beer lovers and vocal music fans an unrivaled opportunity to taste a range of Dogfish Head artisanal beers inspired by brewing traditions from around the world, hear music associated with the selected ales performed by The Fill A Steins, a professional a cappella vocal ensemble, and participate in a live discussion about the deep connection between beer and song which will be recorded and broadcast on public radio’s VoiceBox the following week.

The event includes samplings of seven Dogfish Head beers, from beloved brews like the 90 Minute IPA and Burton Baton to limited releases and beers that are not currently distributed on the west coast such as Sah’tea (a modern take on a ninth century Finnish proto beer) Chateau Jiahu (based on an ancient Chinese recipe dating from 7000 B.C. consisting of rice, honey, grapes and Hawthorne fruit) and Indian Brown Ale (a cross between a Scotch ale, an IPA and an American Brown.) Upon entry, each audience member will receive a special Dogfish Head/VoiceBox tasting glass for their personal use, which they can take home afterwards as a memento of the event.

The Fill A Steins, a group of professional vocalists whose performance credits include such local, national and internationally-recognized vocal ensembles as Chanticleer, Clerestory, American Bach Soloists and the Philharmonia Baroque Chorale, will perform a repertoire of rollicking drinking songs from around the world to go with each beer on the program. The evening’s musical offerings include stein-swinging shanties, lusty odes to ale, and the catchiest drinking songs from parts as far-flung as Scandinavia, China, Central America, and the UK. As the fun progresses and the beer flows, there will also be ample opportunities for audience members to join in with the singing.

Throughout the evening, the musical numbers and beer tastings will be contextualized through a lively, on-stage discussion between renowned Bay Area cicerone Sayre Piotrkowski (The Monk’s Kettle), singers Jesse Antin and Justin Montigne and Chloe Veltman, the host of VoiceBox, a weekly syndicated public radio and podcast series all about the art of the human voice and the best of the vocal music scene. Audience members will learn about the intimate link between drinking beer and singing songs that has thrived for thousands of years across a wide variety of cultures from Great Britain and the United States to Central America and China.

“The fruitful relationship between beer and song has existed since the dawn of civilization. It was at a nine-thousand-year-old dig site in China that molecular evidence of the earliest beer was discovered along with the earliest playable musical instruments. So even way back then they were having a hootenanny,” said Sam A. Calagione, founder and owner of Dogfish Head Brewery. “An evening of diverse, flavorful beers paired with geographically and thematically diverse drinking songs sounds like an updated epic hootenanny to me. Dogfish Head has a long history of celebrating the overlap between the beer and music worlds and we are proud to be hosting this event with VoiceBox.”

Light, complimentary snacks will be provided by 50 Mason Social House, one of San Francisco’s newest live music venues and a downtown destination for beer and wine. Additional drinks beyond the Dogfish Head samples included in the program will be available for purchase at the 50 Mason Social House bar (cash only.)

About Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery makes off-centered ales for off-centered people. Dogfish first opened as a brewpub in downtown Rehoboth Beach, Del., in June 1995, then opened a brewery in nearby Milton in 2002. Dogfish beers push the envelope of what beer is expected to be, often using non-standard ingredients such as raisins, chicory, maple syrup, vanilla and grapes. The company is also known for its Ancient Ales, which revive long-ago brewing traditions. Find out more at http://www.dogfish.com/.

About VoiceBox

VoiceBox is a weekly syndicated public radio series about the art of the human voice and the best of the vocal music scene hosted by arts journalist and singer Chloe Veltman. Launched under the auspices of KALW 91.7 FM San Francisco in January 2010 and now available on several stations in California as well as a free podcast on iTunes, VoiceBox seeks to connect and contextualize the work of singers, songwriters and vocal music experts across myriad backgrounds and genres. By stimulating in-depth discussion about the voice, VoiceBox aims to encourage listeners to expand their musical horizons and participate in singing activities of their own. Find out more at http://www.voicebox-media.org/.

About The Fill A Steins

The Fill A Steins is a group of professional, classically-trained singers who have been inspired to come together especially for Drinking/Songs out of their combined passion for fine ales and singing. The Fills (vocalists Jesse Antin, Kevin Baum, John Bischoff, David Kurtenbach, Clifton Massey, James Monios, and Justin Montigne) are current or former members of some of the most highly acclaimed locally-, nationally- and internationally-recognized vocal ensembles including Chanticleer, Clerestory, American Bach Soloists and the Philharmonia Baroque Chorale. http://www.facebook.com/FillASteins

About Sayre Piotrkowski, Cicerone

Sayre Piotrkowski is a Certified Cicerone based in Oakland, CA. From 2008-2011, Sayre was resident beer expert at The Monk’s Kettle, an award-winning artisanal beer bar in San Francisco. He has collaborated with chefs Russell Moore at Camino in Oakland and David Myers at Comme Ca in Hollywood and has consulted for Duvel USA, Bar Crudo, Zare, Fly Trap, 515 Kitchen and Cocktails, Solano Cellars, Bar Tartine and the Palo Alto Cheese School. Sayre’s work has been featured on The Cooking Channel and mentioned in GQ and 7×7. Find out more at http://beerandsoul.com/.

About 50 Mason Social House

50 Mason Social House is one of San Francisco’s newest music venues and a downtown destination for artisanal beers and wines. The space features live music by great local bands seven nights a week and a premium selection of limited edition and seasonal beers including California Sunshine Rye IPA by Devil’s Canyon Brewing and Firestone Walker’s Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout. Find out more at http://50masonsocialhouse.com/.